A JOINT planning service for two of the counties local authorities has been crowned best in the West Midlands.
Malvern Hills and Wychavon’s planning team was crowned best in the region by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
The accolade, presented at the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence on June 27, recognises a year of transformational achievement for the team including successful delivery of development plans and complex projects.
Councillor Richard Morris, leader of Wychavon District Council, said: “Winning this award shines a spotlight on the exceptional work being done by our planning team behind the scenes.
“Not only have they raised the bar locally—they’ve set a benchmark in the region.”
Reflecting on the team’s recent success, it was praised for successful driving of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) through the crucial examination stage with support from Worcester City Council.
Significant progress has also been made in delivering complex developments, such as Worcestershire Parkway, which now has government backing and will set new standards for a well-planned, modern, and sustainable community.
The team was also a key part of the bid for, and delivery of, the £20 million Levelling Up project at Malvern Theatres.
The service has been restructured with a new team to deliver a fast-tracked service for smaller household applications, which make up most of the team’s work.
Dedicated in-house specialists are focused on strategic and complex developments. Planning Performance Agreements, which set out clear timetables for major applications, are now being used to improve communication between the service and applicants and reduce delays.
These changes have resulted in the number of applications approved within set deadlines soaring above the West Midlands average of 88 per cent.
The service is playing its part in tackling climate change, including embedding policies around sustainable development, biodiversity net gain, tree planting schemes, and supporting the delivery of energy-efficiency measures at Malvern Splash and three community energy-efficiency projects in Pershore.
It was also noted 13.5 per cent of all planning enforcement notices across the West Midlands were delivered by the joint service, demonstrating the two councils’ willingness to use a mix of approaches to ensure consistency and compliance with planning rules.
Improvements are being rolled out to phone systems and the planning section of both councils’ websites to improve the customer experience.
At the same time, judges praised the service’s commitment to staff and councillor development.
Coun David Harrison, portfolio holder for planning and flooding on Malvern Hills District Council, said: “This is recognition for the dedication, professionalism and forward-thinking of our planning team.
“We’re incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved in a short time period, with many thanks to the senior managers.”
